Welcome to today’s tip in my month-long Poetry Tips for Teachers series.
Tip #12: Use a Prop
Use a simple prop to help share a poem visually. When I share Elaine Magliaro’s “Things to Do If You Are a Pencil,” I hold up–a pencil. And I point to each part of the pencil mentioned in the poem or move the pencil as the poem directs. When I share ““Oompachupa Loompacabra,” by Calef Brown (in Hallowilloween), I crumple up candy bar or kiss wrappers and drop them among the students as I read and walk. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated.
When reading the poem draft below that is today’s 15 Words or Less poem, for example, I would bring in some birch bark if I could get some. And I’d display it, feel it, ruffle it, and crackle it, and let kids do the same after the reading.
Now, for my 15 Words or Less writers–and anybody else who would like to join in–it’s another 15 Words or Less flashback to 2007!
Wake up your poetry brains with 15 Words or Less (guidelines here)!
This is?a close-up of the gorgeous river birch in my backyard. Although I have a black thumb, this is the one thing I’ve planted that has thrived! I love it.
What does this remind you of? Fuzzy sweaters? Your grandfather’s workbench, covered in shavings? A bad sunburn? What time of year does it make you think of? What smells or sounds do you associate with it? Choose any topic and write a 15 Words or Less poem to share with us.
Remember, this is for fun! There’s no wrong answer. We’re just playing here!
And here’s my?first draft.
Now it’s your turn! Have fun with your own 15 WORDS OR LESS poem!??(Title doesn’t count toward word count:>)?
78 Responses
Laura I love the pic today and the tittle of your poem and first five lines and epically how you brock up the word winter
street light-trees
hovers of ivory powdery
wings flutter around
moonbeam branches
e v I n g p o e m s
on paper-wings
Poem By Jessica Bigi
I like “wings flutter” Jessica.
Thanks, Jessica–I love your moonbeam branches!
I love your poem- beautiful, mysterious imagery
Laura I love the pic today and the tittle of your poem and first five lines and epically how you brock up the word winter
street light-trees
hovers of ivory powdery
wings flutter around
moonbeam branches
e v I n g p o e m s
on paper-wings
Poem By Jessica Bigi
I like “wings flutter” Jessica.
Thanks, Jessica–I love your moonbeam branches!
I love your poem- beautiful, mysterious imagery
Fairies grow from trees
Fairies start plain
Thick, papery wings
Soon shed
For hummingbird wings
That shimmer in flight
What a beautiful tree!
Very beautiful
…and a lovely thought to go along with the tree Amelia.
I love this fairy metamorphosis, Amelia!
Fairies grow from trees
Fairies start plain
Thick, papery wings
Soon shed
For hummingbird wings
That shimmer in flight
What a beautiful tree!
Very beautiful
…and a lovely thought to go along with the tree Amelia.
I love this fairy metamorphosis, Amelia!
A One-Eyed Monster
Brand new pencil
with which to write,
first a new point »»>
alas, birch blight.
Good morning all. Laura, your “pencil prop” and birch bark prompted my verse. I’ll blame my silliness on a week of rain.
Oh, a sad ending. Love the visual of a new point in line three.
Teehee. I may use birch blight as an excuse for bad poems:>) Love this.
I like hoe you pot the marks after point
Put
A One-Eyed Monster
Brand new pencil
with which to write,
first a new point »»>
alas, birch blight.
Good morning all. Laura, your “pencil prop” and birch bark prompted my verse. I’ll blame my silliness on a week of rain.
Oh, a sad ending. Love the visual of a new point in line three.
Teehee. I may use birch blight as an excuse for bad poems:>) Love this.
I like hoe you pot the marks after point
Put
Fall
Leaves
shuffle off
to die,
little traitors;
no matter,
I dress myself
in bark ruffles.
?Kate Coombs
Kate, perfect description. I love the idea of a bark boa.
Love the attitude!
I love the voice here, which I hear in my head as dark and sly. Fantastic!
Love the list two lines
Fall
Leaves
shuffle off
to die,
little traitors;
no matter,
I dress myself
in bark ruffles.
?Kate Coombs
Kate, perfect description. I love the idea of a bark boa.
Love the attitude!
I love the voice here, which I hear in my head as dark and sly. Fantastic!
Love the list two lines
I like how the spilt words at the end of your poem bring to mind chattering teeth, Laura.
Here’s mine:
bikini season -
time to
shave
these legs
Heeheehee! LOVE that, Ellie. Glad to know I’m not the only one thinking that. Well, not exactly bikini, but…
Oh no! ;-))
A fun poem
I like how the spilt words at the end of your poem bring to mind chattering teeth, Laura.
Here’s mine:
bikini season -
time to
shave
these legs
Heeheehee! LOVE that, Ellie. Glad to know I’m not the only one thinking that. Well, not exactly bikini, but…
Oh no! ;-))
A fun poem
Bumpy or smooth,
Chunky or thin,
I’m a highway for ants,
a tree’s warty skin.
I love, love, love riddle poems! Fabulous!
Thanks Laura–my daily poem project for April has morphed into writing riddle poems. I agree–they are great fun to write
Cool! And kids love them so much, so it’s a win-win.
Very descriptive of the pic Buffy.
Bumpy or smooth,
Chunky or thin,
I’m a highway for ants,
a tree’s warty skin.
I love, love, love riddle poems! Fabulous!
Thanks Laura–my daily poem project for April has morphed into writing riddle poems. I agree–they are great fun to write
Cool! And kids love them so much, so it’s a win-win.
Very descriptive of the pic Buffy.
How to Care for your Thought Tree
Pluck an idea
scratched upon scraps
set it free in the wind
And perhaps …
perhaps …
~~Barbara J. Turner.
What a unique thought, a thought tree. Love it Barbara.
Wonderful and so true about art and writing
What a beautiful poem! I love this!
Oh, Barbara! This is just so lovely:)
How to Care for your Thought Tree
Pluck an idea
scratched upon scraps
set it free in the wind
And perhaps …
perhaps …
~~Barbara J. Turner.
What a unique thought, a thought tree. Love it Barbara.
Wonderful and so true about art and writing
What a beautiful poem! I love this!
Oh, Barbara! This is just so lovely:)
I love how you broke up approaching! Love the pic, too. Makes me think of pastry phyllo sheets! xo
Thank you–and, yes! That makes me hungry…pear/cheese tart, perhaps? With fig jam?
I love how you broke up approaching! Love the pic, too. Makes me think of pastry phyllo sheets! xo
Thank you–and, yes! That makes me hungry…pear/cheese tart, perhaps? With fig jam?
I wish my hair
was straight and sleek.
It’s raining, though,
so hair is EEEK!
Oh the mass of curls and humidity. Nice image.
Boy, can I relate to this! My coarse, wavy hair often looks just like this pic:)
I wish my hair
was straight and sleek.
It’s raining, though,
so hair is EEEK!
Oh the mass of curls and humidity. Nice image.
Boy, can I relate to this! My coarse, wavy hair often looks just like this pic:)
Ticonderoga
Perfect point, no words come
Sharpen thoughts to DEROGA
At GA, I?ll have an idea
Pencil image reminded me of slowly sharpening my pencil at the back of the classroom and awaiting inspiration.
I love this, Marian! That DEROGA–so clever:)
Ticonderoga
Perfect point, no words come
Sharpen thoughts to DEROGA
At GA, I?ll have an idea
Pencil image reminded me of slowly sharpening my pencil at the back of the classroom and awaiting inspiration.
I love this, Marian! That DEROGA–so clever:)